Blacking-box.



Patented lune 5, I900.

J. BUCHANAN.

BLACK-ING BOX.

(Application filad Jan. 81, 1900.)

(No Model.)

I Inventor.

5o box-such, for example, as the well-known UNIT-ED 1 STATES {PATENT OFFIGE.

JAMEs BUCHANAN, on NEw roux, N. 'Y.

BLACKING-BOX.

' SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 650,819, dated June 5, 1900.

I Application filed January 31, 1900. Serial No. 3,436. (No model.)

To all whorit it may concern.

Be it known that I, JAMES BUOHAN AN, a citizen of the United States, and'a residentof New York, (Brooklyn,) in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Blacking-Boxes and Similar Receptacles, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 shows a vertical sectional view of the invention in condition for shipment, storage, &c. Fig. 2 shows a vertical sectional view of the parts as arranged when in use. Fig. 3 illustrates a perspective of the shield or guard-ring.

Shoe-blacking is now frequently presented to the market in boxes which are practically full. In the use of the blacking the dauber or brush by which it is applied to the shoes is rubbed about upon the surface of the blacking within thebox, moisture having been previously applied. During this act the bristles of the dauber orbrush impinge upon the edges of the box, are put under'strain, and snap or spring laterally over the same, inevitably throwing the moist blacking in all directions. Also a certain proportion of the bristles of the brush or dauber will extend beyond'the sides of the box, so that the hand of the user which support-s it and also his linen or clothing are very apt to become spattered or otherwise soiled by the blacking. To overcome this difficulty, various expedients have been resorted to. For instance, the box has been attached to the end of a stick which acts as a handle, whereby it may be held at some distance from the hand of the Also a sliding handle has been attached to the under side of the box, by which it may be held. These expedients are only partially successful and are somewhat expensive and, moreover, are objectionable on the score of increasing the size of the package during transportation and when in use. My invention is designed to obviate the spattering of the blacking and render the use of the article cleanly and convenient, and it is as follows:

A illustrates an ordinary circular blackinglixby box. B (see Fig. 1) is the cover thereof.

0 is an annular rib extending circumferentially around the box; D, a ring of metal, preferably crimped at its upper edge, as shown at E, so that edge is drawn inwardly somewhat, and it may have a groove F at its lower part to fit over the rib C of the box.

G G are interlocking surfaces at the ends of the band of metal, whereby it may be readily and conveniently connected.

The use of the device is as follows: During transportation the ring is disconnected at the joint G G, the box with which it is to be engaged is dropped inside of it, and the whole is packed in the ordinary boxes used for transportation. It will be noted that the height of the ring is substantially the same as the height of the box, and consequently a small additional fraction of space only is required to transport the ring with the box. \Vhen the boxes reach the consumer or dealer, as the case may be, the cover 13 is first removed. The ring D is then connected at the joint G G and is pressed with some little force down over the upper edge of the box, so that its rib F will snap over and properly engage with the rib O 011 the box, as shown in Fig. 2. By this adjustment of the parts it will be seen that the upper crimped portion of the ring projects upwardly half an inch or more above the surface of the blacking, (as shown clearly in Fig. 2,) so that the box may be held in the left hand While the dauber or blacking-brush is applied to the surface of the blacking, (moisture having been previously added, of course,) thus obtaining the needful supply to polish the shoes. During the movement of the dauber or brush there will be no possibility of lateral spattering of the blacking or moisture, nor can the bristles project laterally beyond the npwardly-projecting rim of the ring. Thus cleanliness is secured and also an additional advantage that thedistortion of the brush or dauber by reason of the lateral flattening out ofthe bristles will be avoided, since they will be maintained in proper position by the constantlaterahpressure exerted upon them by the upwardly-projecting rim. After the shoes have been pol ished the cover D of the box may be applied over the upper edge of the ring as it was originally over the upper edge of the box, thus preserving the blaeking from dust and dirt. This arrangement of the cover is shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2.

It will be obvious to those who are familiar with this art that various modifications may be made in the details of construction of the parts. For example, it is not essential that the ring should have the rib or recess F made upon its lower edge nor is it necessary that the box should have the rib O, and the tapering of the upper edge of the rim or ring to adapt it to conveniently receive the cover may be effected in various ways aside from the crimping shown by me. Also the relative proportion of the parts maybe changed, so that the ring shall be higher or lower when adjusted, and the method of connecting the ends of the ring may be dilferent from the interlocking parts G G. A tongue projecting from one end of the ring, and a suitablyconstructed slot or opening in the other end, with which it shall engage, is serviceable, but not quite as desirable as the method shown,because the projecting end of the tongue would be apt to abrade or cntthe fingers of the user. Various modifications may be made without departing from the essentials of the invention. Also it may be employed in receptacles for other material than shoe-blacking-for instance, stove-blacking, enameline, &c.

Having described my invention, I claim- 1. The combination of a blacking-box and a detachable ring, adapted to be applied to the ring being drawn inwardly whereby the cover may be applied to it, for the purposes set forth.

3. The combination of a blacking-box and a ring, the ends whereof are detachable, whereby during transportation the ring may encircle the box, its ends being detached, for the purposes set forth.

4. The combination of a blacking-box and a ring, engaging surfaces upon the ring and the box whereby when the ring is in position it will be firmly held to the box with one of its edges projecting above the level of the blacking therein, for the purposes set forth.

5. The combination of a ring and a blacking-box, engaging surfaces upon the ring and the box so that when they engage with each other a portion of the ring will project above the surface of the blacking in the box, said upwardly-projecting part being adapted in size to the size of the cover of the box, for the purposes set forth.

Signed at New York, in the countyof New York and State of New York, this 29th day of January, A. D. 1900.

JAMES BUCHANAN.

Witnesses:

PHILLIPS ABBOTT, EDGAR R. MEAD. 

